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Minor Change Report 132004 240022 4 (As Published) · 132004.240022.4
APPLICATION FOR A MINOR CHANGE TO A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL
Author Development Planner, Matthew Pinese
Development Assessment
APPLICATION DETAILS
Application No. 132004.240022.4
Development Approval 23693 DA - Resort Hotel Complex
Applicant KL Noosa Properties P/L
Request Received On 20 November 2025
Report Reviewed By Nadine Gorton 17.12.2025
Decision Due Date 18 December 2025
PROPERTY DETAILS
Property Address Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort
14 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads Qld 4567
RP Description Lot 7 on RP802632
Land Area 9,937m2
Existing Use of Land Sofitel Hotel
STATUTORY DETAILS
SEQRP Designation Urban Footprint
Zone Tourist Accommodation Zone
Precinct Hastings Street Mixed Use Precinct
Local Area Plan Noosa Heads
Overlays Land Subject to Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay
Flood Hazard Overlay
Landslide Hazard Overlay
Assessment Type Minor Change to Town Planning Consent Permit
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1. PROPOSAL
The applicant seeks approval to change to an existing development approval through the removal
of approximately 20% of the established landscaping within the Sofitel pool area, equating to
around 100m². This removal of landscaping is confined to the locations identified on the submitted
Existing Demolition Plan (Ref: 24115 1.40.01.01 Rev 01), prepared by M and E and dated 13
November 2025. These landscaped areas are internal to the pool precinct and are not visible from
the surrounding streetscape.
In the areas where landscaping is proposed to be removed, additional poolside deck areas are
proposed with shade umbrellas and outdoor furniture, including daybeds, tables and chairs.
The proposal retains landscaping in key locations around the pool to preserve amenity and the
existing tropical character. At the rear of each poolside deck, fencing will be reinstated, and a 1-
metre-wide landscaped strip will be maintained and enhanced to screen the outdoor furniture from
the adjoining units behind.
The locality and proposal plan are included below.
Figure 1 – Locality
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Figure 2 – Site Plan
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Figure 2- Site Plan
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Figure 3 – Floor Plans
2. BACKGROUND
The Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort (previously known as the Sheraton Noosa) was not the subject
of an existing town planning approval, as it was developed by Suncorp, as an agency of the State
Government. Those circumstances have changed and the hotel is now subject to the Planning
Scheme and relevant provisions affecting the Tourist Accommodation Zone that apply to the site.
Since the development of the site for a resort, a range of approvals have been given for
modifications to the Hotel, with the more recent approvals relevant to this application including:
• 02382 – Conversion of the Chart House Restaurant to a day spa and changes relating to the
first floor level involving the reception area, shops and lounge bar, which was approved 16
March 2000.
• 02382 – Further amendments to the Day Spa and coffee lounge, which were approved
August 2000.
• Further amendments were approved in May 2004 which included some façade changes,
remodelling the meeting and games rooms and restaurant areas.
• A further change was approved in November 2016 permitting a cabana located to the
northern side of the pool podium between 2 existing buildings.
• In April 2025, a Minor Change to the Town Planning Consent Permit (Ref: 132004.240022.2
- 23693 DA) was approved. The change involved converting an existing terrace—previously
used for private dining and functions—into additional restaurant dining space. It also included
removing a private dining room and incorporating that area into the main restaurant.
Internally, the works included installing a new staircase connecting Level 1 of the restaurant
to the basement car park.
• On 10 October 2025, a Minor Change to the Town Planning Consent Permit (ref:
132004.240022.3 - 23693 DA was approved for several changes to the development that
are described in the ‘Proposal’ section of the Minor Change Report.
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3. ASSESSMENT
3.1. Instruments for Statutory Assessment
Under the Planning Act 2016 the application must be assessed against each of the following
statutory planning instruments to the extent they are relevant to the development:
• State Planning Policy;
• South East Queensland Regional Plan;
• Planning Regulation 2017; and
• Noosa Plan 2020 (26 September 2025).
3.2. Statutory Process
The applicant has requested to make a minor change to a development approval under s78 of the
Planning Act 2016. An application for a minor change to a development approval can only be made
in circumstances where a change would constitute a ‘minor change’.
The proposed change to the development approval requested by the applicant is determined to
constitute a minor change on the grounds that:
• the development would not result in substantially different development as the proposal does
not:
o dramatically change the built form in terms of scale, bulk and appearance; or
o introduce new impacts or increase the severity of known impacts; or
• the change does not include prohibited development;
• the change would not require the application to be referred to an additional referral agency
or cause a referral agency to have regard to new matters prescribed by regulation;
• where the original application was code assessable, the change would not cause the
application to become impact assessable.
3.3. Statutory Instruments – Planning Scheme
The original application was lodged and assessed under the now superseded 1990 planning
scheme. Pursuant to s81 of the Planning Act 2017, Council must consider the planning scheme in
effect when the original development application was lodged, however Council may give weight to
Noosa Plan 2020 as the planning scheme in effect at the time of the minor change application
being lodged. The following codes from Noosa Plan 2020 are applicable to this development:
• Tourist Accommodation Zone Code;
• Noosa Heads Local Plan Code;
• Business Activities Code;
• Entertainment Activities Code
• Works Codes;
• Land Subject to Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay Code
• Flood Hazard Overlay Code
• Landslide Hazard Overlay Code
Council’s records indicate that the original development approval does not include conditions or
approved plans specifically delineating these landscaped areas. The current Minor Change
Decision Notice only applies landscaping conditions to areas outside the pool area in the lower
terrace and the planter that straddles the property boundary.
Importantly, the proposal retains landscaping in key locations around the pool to preserve amenity
and the existing tropical character. At the rear of each poolside deck, fencing will be reinstated,
and a 1-metre-wide landscaped strip will be maintained and enhanced to screen pool furniture from
the adjoining units.
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The application has been found to generally comply with all applicable statutory instruments. The
pertinent issues arising out of the assessment are discussed below:
Additional Condition – 17 December 2025
29. Works approved by change application 132004.240022.3 are to be in accordance with the
following plans.
Plan No. Rev. Plan/Document Name Date
53.025.B01 A Plan Level 2 prepared by DesignInc 4.05.2004
Brisbane Pty Ltd
WD03.02
24115 01 Existing Demolition Plan prepared by M and 13.11.2025
E
1.40.01.01
24115 01 General Arrangement Plan prepared by M 13.11.2025
and E
1.40.01.02
24115 02 Floor Plan prepared by M and E 13.10.2025
1.40.01.03
24115 01 Furniture Plan prepared by M & E 13.11.2025
1.40.01.04
4. CONSULTATION
4.1. Referral Agencies
Not applicable
4.2. Internal Council Referrals
The application was forwarded to the following internal Council officers for review and/or comment:
• Senior Environment Officer, Development Assessment
An internal email from Council’s Senior Environment Officer has been uploaded into the ECM
application file, which confirms that there are no requirements from a landscaping perspective.
5. CONCLUSION & REASONS FOR DECISION
The proposed development generally complies with the requirements of the planning scheme and
does not raise any significant issues that cannot be addressed by reasonable and relevant
conditions. The application is therefore recommended for approval.
The report is provided in accordance with Section 83(9) of the Planning Act 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
With regard to Application No. 132004.240022.4 to make a minor change to an existing approval
situated at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort 14 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads and described as Lot 7
on RP802632, Council on 17 December 2025 decided to
A. Approve the change.
B. Include the following additional condition:
Additional Condition – 17 December 2025
29. Works approved by change application 132004.240022.3 are to be in accordance with the
following plans.
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Plan No. Rev. Plan/Document Name Date
53.025.B01 A Plan Level 2 prepared by DesignInc 4.05.2004
Brisbane Pty Ltd
WD03.02
As annotated by Council
24115 01 Existing Demolition Plan prepared by M and 13.11.2025
E
1.40.01.01
As annotated by Council
24115 01 General Arrangement Plan prepared by M 13.11.2025
and E
1.40.01.02
24115 02 Floor Plan prepared by M and E 13.10.2025
1.40.01.03
24115 01 Furniture Plan prepared by M & E 13.11.2025
1.40.01.04
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Document Set ID: 24375140
Version: 4, Version Date: 17/12/2025
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